Decorating a Christmas Mantel

Sometimes I have to laugh about the whole “blogging” life — I was looking through HGTV.com for ideas yesterday and in four different places I unexpectedly happened upon pictures of various rooms in myown house from the past few Christmases, featured in their idea books. I did a double take!

Of course, I had given them permission to use the photos and ideas when they asked last summer, but it still catches me off guard to see my OWN house on HGTV.com. Hmmm. I am now getting ideas from myself. {I’m a little crazier than I thought.}

Last year for my mantel, as you can see in the above photo (and in the HGTV idea book), I went with limey green apples and sparkly vines mixed with shiny blue and silver. I wanted my mantel to look fresh and pretty.

I used some of the same decorating principles for my Christmas mantel that I use on ordinary days. Here are some tips:

Mix things up

I love mixing up things that you might not ordinarily think of putting together (in this case, lime green apples, blue shiny Christmas balls on glass candlesticks and sparkly faux greenery in conjunction with the rustic willow wreath, shutters and black lanterns). You might mix styles, objects or themes to come up with something entirely unique for your own for your holiday mantel! You’ll never know what might work until you try it!

Add texture and contrast

For my mantel, I tried to add lots of texture and contrast (such as the shiny blue balls and sparkly greenery to contrast with the rustic twigs in the willow wreath). Texture and contrast added the warmth and timelessness that I love with a bit of sparkle and fun that feels fresh and new.

Be authentic and meaningful

To personalize our stockings, I tucked my grandma’s antique doilies around the cuffs. This detail gave our Pottery Barn white quilted stockings a little more history and a personal touch. Doilies are not expected in the mantel mix, but that just makes it more fun and authentic to me. I’ve had those doilies for years and years so it made me happy to see them on our stockings! I use them most every Christmas in different ways. Tying in meaningful objects from your past makes your style unique and personal.

Have fun being creative

This Christmas, my mantel is really different once again! I’d say it is more of a rustic woodland natural look. I’ll hopefully get photos and a post about it soon, I’m sorry to leave you hanging on last year’s mantel (you already saw a sneak peek of the garland here!).

I always have fun finding new ways to express my own style. I want to be authentic in my style, yet have it look different and interesting from year to year so I don’t get in a rut! Creativity is fun like that, let yourself try something new and unexpected this year!

What unique ideas or items are you using for your mantel this Christmas?

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I was inspired to get it done early this year and done more simply that before. Just as I was finishing I found out our 3 year old granddaughter is very seriously ill and in the hospital and needing many prayers. I shudder to think what it would be like right now with the house totally torn up and boxes everywhere. I am glad I listened to that prompting to keep it more simple and get it done. Now it just feels peaceful and orderly and is helping me get through this crisis.

Melissa, I saw some of your photos on hgtv.com too! That is so cool! I love your cream Christmas stockings. Ours are super colorful but the kids love them so they’re staying….even though I’m dreaming of a white (mantle decorated for) Christmas! Thanks for sharing your great ideas.

I really love those stockings! I like to mix different textures and styles together. I just finished my holiday mantel and placed some succulents on contemporary candlesticks. Not traditional, by any means, but I tend to like the unique. :-)
~ Sue

What a kick! You have such a fun way of expressing it, too…”Hmmm. I am now getting ideas from myself. {I’m a little crazier than I thought.}” Hahahahahaha… It’s a beautiful mantel and is rightly featured at HGTV.

I love decorating my mantel for all seasons, but I’m especially thrilled with how it turned out this year. I literally bought NOTHING this year and used everything that I have. Your advice is spot on for decorating mantels! :)

wow, this is so weird. I just “searched” christmas mantels earlier this evening looking for ideas for my new house. I’ve moved into a large home with a fireplace for the first time since my husband and I were married over 15 years ago, so I need to add to my repertoire. I landed on the HGTV site and flipped through those pics, saving a couple in my “house decorating ideas” folder on my laptop. My first save? the picture, above, of your mantel apparently. I saved it because it’s much like what I’ve done in an area of my last house- but it wasn’t holiday specific and I liked what you’d done to make it work for a christmas mantel. Later I went back to my search results and clicked on this page because I thought that the name of your blog looked promising for ideas. I guess I was right! ;) It was very funny to see that same picture again as I scrolled down. Great job. I might just follow your blog too.